Previous Breast Cancer and Secondhand Smoke

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I am a breast cancer survivor. I never smoked. But my husband smokes and often does it at home. Being a second hand smoker, am I at higher risk of dying from this?
Thanks!

Li Liu, MD, OncoLink editorial assistant, responds:

Dear M:
Thank you for your interest and question.

Women who already have had one breast cancer are at higher than average risk of developing a second, new breast cancer. This is different from a recurrence of the first cancer. In addition, some studies have demonstrated that positive associations between environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and breast cancer incidence or death (Prev Med 1984 Nov; 13(6): 680-90; Am J Epidemiol 1991 Jan 15; 133(2): 208-10). If a woman has a breast cancer and is exposed to ETS, as in your situation, the probability of developing a second, new breast cancer could be even higher, although this has not been published to my knowledge.